Okayama, Japan, August 31, 2006: The last time Japan met Dominican Republic, in the World Grand Prix just over a year ago, the Asian super power won 3-0. But Japan's captain, Yoshie Takeshita, is reading nothing into that result as her team prepares for a crucial match on Friday evening. "This year's Dominican Republic team is completely different to last year's; they have very high potential," Takeshita said, after a training session at Momotaro Arena on Thursday afternoon. "The players are the same, but they have improved a lot technically and mentally. Serve-reception will be the most important part of the game for us." After six of the nine matches in the preliminary round of the World Grand Prix, Japan have a 4-2 win-loss record to stand in fifth place, ahead of Cuba on points ratio. Although Dominican Republic are 2-4 and in eighth place, they have beaten USA and Poland, and only lost to Brazil in the fifth set last week. Ranked 11th in the world, four places behind Japan, they represent a major threat to Japan's chances of qualifying for the six-team final round in Italy next week. "We have to beat Dominican Republic, otherwise we cannot think about going to the final six," added Takeshita, the dynamic setter who has been in fine form for Japan this season. "We don't know what is going to happen in the other matches, and it doesn't matter to us at the moment. All that matters is that we must beat Dominican Republic, and then we can see where we are." In the 12-team table, with the top five plus host Italy qualifying for Reggio Calabria next week, USA (2-4) are seventh, and face Thailand, Korea and Russia in Bangkok. The Japanese camp feels that the Americans are capable of winning all three matches to move to 5-4, so they cannot afford any mistakes against Dominican Republic before they meet world champions Italy on Saturday and two-time defending Grand Prix champions Brazil on Sunday in a tough weekend. The 2006 Grand Prix has marked the arrival of a new star in Japanese volleyball, Erika Araki, who was born in nearby Kurashiki and attended school in the Okayama area until she was 15. Takeshita has been very impressed with the form of the powerful, 1.86-metre middle blocker. "She's always had a lot of potential," said the captain. "This year she is starting to fulfil it, and is still on the way. "She is more experienced and more confident."